Condition parameter is used to decide execution of the JOB step based on the return code. And also COND parameter used to specify the return code validation the system uses to determine whether a job step will continue processing or not.

COND parameter can be coded at JOB level and Step level. COND parameter is optional parameter. Maximum 8 conditions can be coded in single COND. More than one condition is separated by comma (,).

If COND coded at step level and the coded condition is false, system executes the step. If COND coded at step level and the coded conditioned is true, system bypass the step execution and terminates the job.

COND parameter is used to override the system default sequence of execution. Bypassing the step based on the return code is not equal to terminating a step abnormally. The COND parameter cannot have a null value.

COND[.procstepname] = (return-code,operator)
COND[.procstepname] = ((return-code,operator[,stepname][.procstepname])
 [,(return-code,operator[,stepname][.procstepname])]... [,EVEN])
 [,ONLY]
COND=EVEN
COND=ONLY

COND parameter divided into four types based on its usage.

1. COND=ONLY
2. COND=EVEN
3. COND= (Rc,Ro)
4. COND= (Rc,Ro,Stepname)

COND=ONLY:

ONLY parameter used to execute the step with COND parameter when the previous step execution is unsuccessful. If the previous step execution result is abnormal then the subsequent step must get executed. If the previous step execution result is normal then the subsequent step must get executed.

COND=ONLY

Below table representing the various possible scenarios based on the different input.

//JOB CARD 
//S1 EXEC PGM=P1 
//S2 EXEC PGM=P2 
//S3 EXEC PGM=P3, COND=ONLY 
//S4 EXEC PGM=P4 

Below table shows the possible output scenarios.

COND=EVEN:

EVEN parameter used to execute step with COND parameter when the previous step execution is successful/unsuccessful. If the previous step execution result is normal/abnormal then the current step must get executed. COND=EVEN ignores the previous step return code and executes the current step always.

COND=EVEN

Below table representing the various possible scenarios based on the different input.

//JOB CARD 
//S1 EXEC PGM=P1 
//S2 EXEC PGM=P2 
//S3 EXEC PGM=P3, COND=EVEN 
//S4 EXEC PGM=P4 

Below table shows the possible output scenarios.

COND= (RC, RO):

COND= (RC, RO) is used to execute the step with COND parameter based on the condition code returned by previous step. If COND= (RC, RO) is true then the step with COND parameter execution will get bypassed. If COND= (RC, RO) is false then the step with COND parameter will get executed.

COND[.procstepname] = (return-code,operator)

return-code/RC:

In the above syntax, Rc is the Return code of precious step. The valid RC values are from 0 to 4095.

operator/RO:

RO is the relational operator used to validate the return code. The valid Relational Operator is like below

Below table representing the various possible scenarios based on the different input.

//JOB CARD 
//S1 EXEC PGM=P1 
//S2 EXEC PGM=P2 
//S3 EXEC PGM=P3, COND=(12,NE)
//S4 EXEC PGM=P4       

Below table shows the possible output scenarios.

COND= (RC, RO, Stepname):

COND= (RC, RO, Stepname) is used to execute the step with COND parameter based on the condition code returned by specified step name in COND. If COND= (RC, RO, Stepname) is true then the step with COND parameter execution will get bypassed.

If COND= (RC, RO, Stepname) is false then the step with COND parameter will get executed. This COND parameter will be used to validate the particular step return code but not previous step.

COND[.procstepname] = (return-code,operator[,stepname][.procstepname])

return-code/RC:

In the above syntax, Rc is the Return code of precious step. The valid RC values are from 0 to 4095.

operator/RO:

RO is the relational operator used to validate the return code. The valid Relational Operator is like below

Below table representing the various possible scenarios based on the different input.

//JOB CARD 
//S1 EXEC PGM=P1 
//S2 EXEC PGM=P2 
//S3 EXEC PGM=P3, COND=(12,EQ,S1) 
//S4 EXEC PGM=P4            

Below table shows the possible output scenarios.